The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-01-12

For the Year 1885, a coneiss Statement Of Fire
. fncfl

/ facts.
Bozeman, M. T., Jan. 9Th, 1887.
To the officers and members Of the
Bozeman Fire Department:
GENTLEMEN:-In pursuance Of what
has almost become q custom, although
not'one of the duties of the secretary of
the department, 1 make an annual re-
port of my stewardship:
Before making my financial report,
and the inventory of the property in
our possession, as is required by our
constition. and bylaws, I concluded to
make a few general remarks:
The year last past was the second year
of IL work as a department, composed
of three companies, and whether or not
we have been successful in our efforts
DURING OUR TWO
years of service, is to some extent shown
by my report of fires, which appears
hereafter, but further than that it is not
for us to say; but for the taxpayers and
property-holders of our city to say
whether or not they are satisfied with
our efforts.
We who are a body of men banded
together and working h~armoniously and
with one accord, and for what? For the
preservation of the homes and firesides
of the citizens of Bozeman. And with
these grand thoughts in mind, we will
fight the mighty demon, fire, and do all
in Il power to save life and property,
and in the words of--we will
say, We will "live or die, survive or
PERISH" we will stand together and do
our DUTY.
I have often wondered, and have not
we each and every one of us? while
doing all in our power and in need of
help, why is it that wherever you may
go, you will find business men and prop
erty holders standing within the light Of
a burning building with their arms
folded, and never offering to lend a help
ing hand, and our little city is no excep-
ton. I have tried to solve this problem,
but 30 far have failed to find an answer.
There are people mean enough in
Bozeman, who should help, land it
would be to their interest to help us)
who
sTAND AND WATCH
volunteer iremen when doing their
duty, and revile and curse the firemen.
They do not stop TO think hat the great
or number Of tiremen have not one
dollars worth of property at stake, but
are working for the benefit of the COM
munity at large, spelling their clothing,
and for what? For whom? very likely
for the benefit of the very person who
has been abusing them. In many cases
We receive not even a "thank you" or a
"well done," when we have succeeded
in conquering the flames. Why should
such things be for us2 We, who ask no
remuneration for our services, for it is
enough for us to know that we have
done our duty.
How many people eve stop to think
that at every fire, YER in a small town
like Bohemian, that every fireman is in
danger of losing life or limb, or ever
stop to ask, has everything gone rlght2
Has any n been injured? No, not
many. Thew seem to think that be-
cause we are firemen, we have no right
to get hurt, and never need assistance.
How little people think of the attrac-
ton a good warm bed has for q fireman
as well al for others, when the mercury
shows 10. 20, or 80 degrees below zero,
and the snow is deep. There are few
who think Of US in that light, but when
an alarm is sounded at night in the
depth of winter, will say, "the firemen
will attend to that, they can manage it,
they need no assistance, there are
enough of them to put out the fire, we
will not 60 out, for il is too cold"
Go where you will, north, east, south
or west, to Europe, Asia, or where you
will. There you will find no men who
DESERVE MORE CREDIT,
or, I may say, as much credit, as the
volunteer fremen, and the good people
of Bozeman can congratulate themselves
on that score, for they have a depart
ment second to none in the northwest, a
band of young men, who have, (since
the organization Of the Department.
never failed to respond to an alarm Of
fire, no matter whether 1t be warm or
cold, day or night, the ground covered
with q deep snow OIL mud, and to run
their machinery out, and do all in their
power to master the fire. give. with
this report, m average of losses by fire
since u organization, which gives a
pretty good idea Of our work.
In my annual report of one year ago.
it was shown that the Bohemian Fire
Department consisted of rs members.
During the past year we have lost a
number of members from various causes,
and during the same time we have taken
in members enough to fill our ranks and
we now have 70 members.
Our companies are divided as follows:
Hook & ladder company, 81 members,
Engine 81
Alpha hose l8
Our records show that since the last
annual report we have received from
the city Of Bozeman one new bell,
1900 POUNDS IN WEIGHT,
and cost $500, and q two-wheel hose
cart or jumper, cost $2s5, and that the
city property now in our possession is a,
follows;
One hook & ladder truck complete 81 ,25t
One Button LIST class hand engine 1,87l
One Button 4-wheel hose carriage 81,
One Preston & Mott jumper 2sl
1000 feet best quality jacket hose 90t
100 leather fire buckets Il
Is cases fire ext. worthless, but cost az
80 Eng. Co. hats & belts 10:
25 H. & L. hats, caps 4 shirts lO(
10 Hose Co. caps & belts 81
One heating stove II
One 1900 h bell 3t
Total, $8,O1,
Personal property Of department:
One 407 ID bell $13t